Delicious Pumpkin Leaves Recipe: A Nutritious and Flavorful Green Dish

Prepare the Leaves:

1. • • Remove the fibrous spine and fuzz from the pumpkin leaves. To do this, hold the leaf by its stem, split the stem, and peel back the fibers from the stem and back of the leaf. Rinse the de-stringed leaves thoroughly in water.
   

Chop the Leaves:

1. • • Roll the leaves together and chop them into strips.

Sauté the Vegetables:

1. Warm the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes, until it turns translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until it becomes fragrant.

Add Tomatoes and Leaves:

1. • • Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften, around 2 minutes.
     • Stir in the chopped pumpkin leaves, and season with salt and pepper.

Cook the Leaves:

1. • • If using coconut milk, add it now and stir. Cook the leaves for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender but still bright green.

Season and Serve:

1. 1. • Adjust the seasoning to taste. Optionally, add red pepper flakes for a bit of spice.
      • Squeeze lime juice over the cooked pumpkin leaves before serving.

   Serving Suggestions:

   Serve the cooked pumpkin leaves as a side dish with rice, as a topping for pasta, or as a filling for wraps or tacos.